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The phytochemical investigation on the ethanolic extract of the leaves of Ocimum gratissimum (syn. O. viride) has led to the isolation of a new alkaloid, diazovirid or 1,1′-(diazeno1,2-diyl) bis (ethane-1,2-diol) (1) and 2-hydroxy-D-glucal or (2 R, 3S, 4S)-2-(hydroxymethyl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran-3,4,5-triol (2), reported for the first time as a natural product. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic analyses. The volatile constituents have also been studied by GC-FID and GC-MS leading to the characterization of compounds 3–18, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous in vitro studies in our laboratory demonstrated that ethyl acetate (P2) and water- soluble (PS/PT1) fractionated leaf extracts of Ocimum gratissimum inhibit the proliferation of prostate cancer cells. It has been reported that the crude aqueous extract induces apoptosis in lung adenocarcinoma cells; however, the efficacy of the fractionated extracts against these cells remains unclear. In the present study, we hypothesized that the ability of the fractionated extracts to inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis is associated with the activation of pro-apoptotic proteins and induction of DNA condensation in A549 cells. Ocimum gratissimum was cultivated and its leaves were harvested, extracted, and fractionated to produce fractions P2 and PS/PT1. Anti-proliferative activity was assessed by direct cell count. For morphological characterization of apoptosis, 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining was employed. Western blot analysis was performed to evaluate the apoptotic activity of the fractionated extracts. In data generated from anti-proliferation studies, P2 significantly inhibited cell proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner; PS/PT1 elicited a decrease in the viability of cells, occurring at 500 µg/mL. 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining revealed the induction of apoptosis, as evidenced by the formation of apoptotic bodies. Increased levels of pro-apoptotic proteins were observed as the concentrations of the fractionated extracts increased. These results suggest that fractionated leaf extracts of Ocimum gratissimum inhibit the proliferation and induce apoptosis of A549 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecules derived from natural products (NPs) have many applications in health and disease; due to their versatility, safety, and costeffectiveness. This study compared the anti-inflammatory properties of a topical cream made using Ocimum gratissimum extract both alone and in combination with Cucurbita ‘pumpkin’ seed oil (PSO) with a commercially available product. Wistar rats, comprising males and nonpregnant females weighing between 250 and 300 g, were grouped into four groups (A to D), with 3 rats in each group. They received four different batches of creams, 1 to 4, respectively (after sub-acute inflammation was induced). The creams from batches ‘1’ and ‘2’ contained NPs, while batches ‘3’ and ‘4’ contained excipients devoid of NPs and the commercial product, respectively. Batch ‘1’ contained O. gratissimum and PSO, but batch ‘2’ only contained O. gratissimum. The extract obtained from O. gratissimum was also subjected to gas chromatograph flame ionization detector (GC-FID) analysis. The result after the treatments revealed that the cream from batch ‘1’ achieved 100 % inflammation inhibition on the fourth day, while the commercial product ‘batch 4’ achieved the same feat on the eighth day of application. The GC-FID analysis revealed components with recognized anti-inflammatory properties, such as quercetin, naringenin, steroids, etc.; and the physical stability parameters for the cream batches didn’t significantly change during an assessment period of sixty days. Conclusively; topical creams formulated with O. gratissimum and PSO are effective for skin inflammations, are stable, and outperformed the commercially available products to which they were compared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity has been long known as a medical problem that needs to be tackled effectively and efficiently. Obesity raises the chance of acquiring several illnesses, including type 2 diabetes, heart attack, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and stroke. This research sought to ascertain the anti-obesity effects of Ocimum gratissimum leaf powder supplementation on obesity induced by high fat diet (HDF)in male Wistar rats. Twenty-four male Wistar rats (120 ± 20g) were housed in cages with 6 rats in each cage. Rats were maintained at room temperature during a two-week acclimatization period. Obesity was induced by feeding Groups 2, 3, and 4 with HFD for twelve weeks, while group 1 was fed a normal pellet diet (NPD). After that, the normal control group represented by Group 1 and obese control group by Group 2 were not treated. However, Groups 3 and 4 received HFD supplemented with 10% and 20% of the leaves powdered from Ocimum gratissimum respectively for 4 weeks. Feed intake, body weight, adiposity index, total fat mass, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were all considerably decreased (p <0.05) by the plant, while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were increased (p < 0.05) when compared to the HFD obese control. The O. gratissimum leaves contained moderate amounts of some nutrients (magnesium, iron, zinc, and copper) and it decreased the number and size of fat deposit on rat liver. The study indicated that Ocimum gratissimum leaves have the potential to reduce body weight and feed intake in animals thus suggesting potent anti-obesity properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effect of ethanolic extract of Ocimum gratissimum leaves (EEOGL) on letrozole‐induced polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and determine the possible binding effects of compounds identified in EEOGL using molecular docking method. After the induction using letrozole (1 mg/kg), normal (n=4) and PCOS (n=16; 4 groups of 4 animals/group) were treated for 14 days orally with distilled water (1 ml/kg), metformin (500 mg/kg), clomiphene‐citrate (2 mg/kg), and EEOGL (50 and 100 mg/kg). 47 compounds were docked to androgen receptor (AR), estrogen receptor (ER), fructose‐1,6‐bisphosphate (FBP), and phosphoenolpyruvate‐carboxykinase (PEPCK) using Vina. The result obtained revealed that letrozole‐induced PCOS rats exhibited altered oestrous cycle and administration of the EEOGL at 50 mg/kg significantly (p<0.05) decreased the serum insulin, testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride while serum concentration of Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol, and High‐Density Lipoprotein (HDL) were significantly (p<0.05) increased compared to the control. However, administration of 100 mg/kg of the EEOGL did not reverse elevated insulin and LH levels. Molecular docking revealed four compounds with at high binding affinity for at least one of the proteins studied compared to standard drugs. Ethanolic extracts of O. gratissimum has the potential to regulate the reproductive‐induced alterations in PCOS rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Lamiaceae plant species Ocimum gratissimum is the subject of this experiment. Three common pathogenic bacteria were used to test the antibacterial activity of the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the stem of Ocimum gratissimum. They underwent tests against Shigella species, Salmonella enterica, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Each extract was evaluated for its antibacterial properties, minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC), and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). The plant extracts were given at various concentrations of 250 mg/mL, 125 mg/mL, 61.5 mg/mL, and 31.2 mg/mL in order to assess their antibacterial activities against the chosen bacteria using the agar well diffusion method. The outcomes demonstrated that while both plant stem extracts inhibited the organisms, the ethanolic stem extract was superior to the aqueous counterpart in terms of its effectiveness. The range of the minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) was 3.96 mg/mL to 31.25 mg/mL. The results of this investigation demonstrate that the stems of Ocimum gratissimum possess antibacterial properties on par with those of the plant's leaves. The low minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) further suggest a potent antibacterial action against the pathogens, especially when it comes to the ethanol extracts. As a result, Ocimum gratissimum extracts may be utilized to treat infections linked to the test organisms, establishing the plant's status as a natural antibiotic and a necessary ingredient in pharmaceutical manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes is a group of medical conditions characterized by the body's inability to effectively control blood glucose levels, due to either insufficient insulin synthesis in type 1 diabetes or inadequate insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetes. According to this research, the PI3K/AKT pathway of Ocimum gratissimum leaf flavonoid-rich extracts in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats was studied. We purchased and used a total of forty (40) male Wistar rats for the study. We divided the animals into five (5) different groups: normal control (Group A), diabetic control (Group B), low dose (150 mg/kg body weight) of Ocimum gratissimum flavonoid-rich leaf extract (LDOGFL) (Group C), high dose (300 mg/kg body weight) of Ocimum gratissimum flavonoid-rich leaf extract (HDOGFL) (Group D), and 200 mg/kg of metformin (MET) (Group E). Streptozotocin induced all groups except Group A, which serves as the normal control group. The experiment lasted for 21 days, following which we sacrificed the animals and harvested their brains for biochemical analysis on the 22nd day. We carried out an analysis that included reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione transferases (GST), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), along with GLUT4, MDA, pro-inflammatory cytokines, NO, neurotransmitters, cholinergic enzyme activities, cardiolipin, and the gene expression of PI3K/AKT. The obtained result indicates that the flavonoid-rich extracts of O. gratissimum significantly enhanced the levels of GSH, GST, CAT, GPx, and SOD, as well as GLUT4 and cardiolipin. The levels of GSH, GST, CAT, GPx, and SOD, as well as GLUT4 and cardiolipin, were significantly increased by gratissimum. Moreover, the extracts decrease the levels of MDA, pro-inflammatory cytokines, NO, neurotransmitters, and cholinergic enzyme activities. Additionally, the flavonoid-rich extracts of O. gratissimum significantly improved the AKT and PI3K gene expressions in diabetic rats. gratissimum had their AKT and PI3K gene expressions significantly (p

Background: This study aimed to investigate the potential cardioprotective effects of flavonoid-rich extracts from Ocimum gratissimum leaves in a streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat model by assessing redox stress biomarkers, ATPase activities, gene expression levels, enzyme activities, and histopathological changes. Methods: Diabetic rats were administered low (LDOGFL) and high (HDOGFL) doses of O. gratissimum leaf flavonoid-rich extracts, metformin (MET), or served as diabetic (DC) and normal (NC) controls for twenty-one days. Various cardiac parameters were evaluated, including redox stress biomarkers, ATPase activities, relative gene expression of p53 and VCAM, phosphatase activities, transaminase activities, serum creatine kinase-MB (CKMB) activities, cardiac troponin levels, and natriuretic peptide levels. Additionally, heart histoarchitecture was also examined using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Results: Flavonoid-rich extracts of O. gratissimum significantly (p < 0.05) mitigated redox stress by decreasing malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and increasing reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities in diabetic treated rats. The extracts also notably (p < 0.05) improved ATPase activities and significantly (p < 0.05) modulated the relative gene expression of p53 and VCAM in diabetic treated rats. Furthermore, diabetic rat administered flavonoid-rich extracts markedly (p < 0.05) attenuated phosphatase activities, transaminase activities, CKMB activities, cardiac troponin levels, and natriuretic peptide levels. Histopathological examination of the diabetic rats revealed improved cardiac histoarchitecture in extract-treated groups compared to diabetic controls. Conclusion: These findings suggest that O. gratissimum leaf flavonoid-rich extracts confer cardioprotective effects in STZ-induced diabetic rats by ameliorating redox imbalance, modulating gene expression, regulating enzyme activities, and preserving cardiac histoarchitecture. These results highlight the potential therapeutic application of O. gratissimum flavonoids in managing diabetes-induced cardiomyopathy.

Introduction: This study appraised the antioxidant potentials, mineral compositions, and antidiabetic activities of pap water (aqua) extract (PWE) and aqueous extract (AE) from Ocimum gratissimum. Methods: The total phenolic contents (TPC), total flavonoid contents (TFC), ferric reducing antioxidant powers (FRAP), Fe2+-chelating abilities, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging abilities, and enzymes inhibition potentials of the PWE and AE from O. gratissimum were evaluated. Additionally, mineral contents were determined using absorptive absorbance spectroscopy (AAS). Results: The PWE of O. gratissimum exhibited higher TPC of 42.61± 0.04 mg gallic acid equivalent per gram of dried sample (GAE/g) and TFC of 85.7 ± 0.02 µg quercetin equivalent per gram of dried sample (QE/g). In contrast, AE had lower TPC (21.52 ± 0.01 mg GAE/g) and TFC (55.0 ± 0.01 µg QE/g). PWE also displayed a lower FRAP of 2.86 ± 0.01 mg AAE/g, while AE had a higher FRAP of 2.94 ± 0.03 mg AAE/g. PWE of O. gratissimum had IC50 for DPPH: 100.00 µg/mL, Fe2+-chelating ability: 4.41 µg/mL, while AE had IC50 for DPPH: 140.00 µg/mL and Fe2+-chelating ability: 4.90 µg/mL. Similarly, the PWE of O. gratissimum showed a higher α-amylase inhibition (IC50: 0.47 mg/mL) than AE (IC50: 0.78 mg/mL); however, AE (IC50 =3.09 µg/mL) demonstrated a higher α-glucosidase inhibition than PWE (IC50: 9.09 µg/mL). AAS analyses indicated the presence of Ca, Fe, Mg, Cu, Zn, and Mn in different proportions in both extracts. Conclusion: Therefore, PWE could be a better alternative in the management of diabetes melitus if properly annexed.

Previous in vitro studies in our laboratory demonstrated that ethyl acetate (P2) and water- soluble (PS/PT1) fractionated leaf extracts of Ocimum gratissimum inhibit the proliferation of prostate cancer cells. It has been reported that the crude aqueous extract induces apoptosis in lung adenocarcinoma cells; however, the efficacy of the fractionated extracts against these cells remains unclear. In the present study, we hypothesized that the ability of the fractionated extracts to inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis is associated with the activation of pro-apoptotic proteins and induction of DNA condensation in A549 cells. Ocimum gratissimum was cultivated and its leaves were harvested, extracted, and fractionated to produce fractions P2 and PS/PT1. Anti-proliferative activity was assessed by direct cell count. For morphological characterization of apoptosis, 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining was employed. Western blot analysis was performed to evaluate the apoptotic activity of the fractionated extracts. In data generated from anti-proliferation studies, P2 significantly inhibited cell proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner; PS/PT1 elicited a decrease in the viability of cells, occurring at 500 µg/mL. 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining revealed the induction of apoptosis, as evidenced by the formation of apoptotic bodies. Increased levels of pro-apoptotic proteins were observed as the concentrations of the fractionated extracts increased. These results suggest that fractionated leaf extracts of Ocimum gratissimum inhibit the proliferation and induce apoptosis of A549 cells.

Cadmium, a heavy metal, is recognized for its severe toxicity to living organisms, especially its detrimental effects on the kidneys, bones, and respiratory system. Ocimum gratissimum locally referred to as "scent leaf" has pharmacological properties as well as antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties. This study evaluated the protective effect of aqueous extract of O. gratissimum leaf on cadmium-induced liver and kidney injury in male Wistar rats. In this experiment, the rats were randomly assigned to five groups. The control group received water and standard rat pellets, the negative control group was administered 50 mg/kg of CdCl2 orally once every three days, and the positive control group received the same cadmium dosage along with a prior administration of 100 mg/kg of silymarin. The extract-treated groups were pretreated with 50 mg/kg of CdCl2 once every three days, coupled with daily administration of 400 and 800 mg/kg body weight of the extract. Significant increases (≤ 0.05) in serum levels of ALP, AST, ALT, bilirubin, and creatinine were observed with cadmium exposure, while total protein and urea were significantly decreased (≤ 0.05). SOD, CAT, and GSH were significantly decreased (≤ 0.05), while MDA level was significantly increased (≤ 0.05). However, treatment with silymarin and varying doses of the extract substantially improved liver and renal function indices, as well as restoring the antioxidant status of the rats to near-normal levels. In conclusion, this study suggests that the extract possesses antioxidant and hepato-renal protective properties, offering promise for further investigation into its potential in mitigating cadmiuminduced toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There has been increasing antibiotic resistance by waterborne diseases related bacteria. Despite the use of various antibiotics, there is still a threat in the treatment of water-borne diseases. This study evaluated the antibacterial potentials of Ocimum gratissimum (O. gratissimum) on faecal bacteria associated with surface water. Methods: The collection, extraction, Gas chromatography, and mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) of O. gratissimum leaves and enumeration of bacterial derivatives from surface water samples were conducted per specified protocols. Antibacterial susceptibility test, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of O. gratissimum extracts on bacteria isolates were conducted via agar well diffusion and tube dilution respectively. Results: The GC-MS revealed the presence of eugenol with the highest percentage composition of 33.0 % in ethanol extract, while γ-Terpinene had the highest percentage composition of 11.88% in aqueous extract. Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis were the faecal bacteria observed. Escherichia coli had an inhibition zone of 23.67 mm and 30.67 mm at 50 mg/ml and 100 mg/ml on O. gratissimum aqueous extract respectively, while ethanol extracts were inhibited mostly with an inhibition range of 26.67 mm - 30.32 mm. The MIC obtained varied from 25 mg/ml to 50 mg/ml, the MBC was constant at 100 mg/ml for all bacterial isolates. Conclusion: Findings revealed that the ethanol extract of O. gratissimum leaf can be employed in the management of the faecal indicator bacteria observed in this study. Eugenol could be used explored for contemporary antibacterial studies to combat water-borne bacteria.

Les échecs thérapeutiques dus à l’antibiorésistance bactérienne pose un problème majeur de santé publique. Parmi les solutions qui s’offrent, les plantes médicinales constituent une bonne alternative. Ainsi, nous avons expérimenté au cours de cette étude le potentiel inhibiteur de l’huile essentielle d’Ocimum gratissimum sur diverses souches multi- résistantes d’entérobactéries productrices de BLSE à partir de prélèvements de milieux biologiques tels qu’urines, plaies et pus. L’huile essentielle de ladite plante obtenue par entrainement à la vapeur d’eau avec un rendement de 0,26% a été analysée par la méthode chromatographique CPG / MS suivie de la détermination des paramètres physico-chimiques. Les principaux composés de l’huile étaient le p-cymène (52,0%) et le carvacrol (22,88%). La recherche des gènes de résistance a été réalisée grâce aux méthodes de biologie moléculaire. La sensibilité des souches aux extraits a été évaluée par la méthode de diffusion des disques sur gélose. Le test antibactérien effectué sur un total de 30 souches productrices de BLSE isolées a révélé l’efficacité inhibitrice de l’huile essentielle d’Ocimum gratissimum dans la prise en charge de diverses infections.

Introduction : L’acné due à une production excessive de sébum associée ou non à une prolifération bactérienne est habituellement traitée avec des topiques. L’Aloe vera (AV) et l’Ocimum gratissimum (OG) sont deux plantes traditionnellement utilisées dans le traitement de l’acné. Ainsi, notre étude a consisté en des essais de formulation et d’évaluation de l’efficacité antibactérienne d’un émulgel combinant ces deux plantes. Méthodologie : Les essais ont été faits à partir du gel d’AV à la proportion de 10% et 20% respectivement associée à l’huile essentielle (HE) d’OG à 5% et 10% permettant d’élaborer un émulgel à base de l’HE gélifiée avec du carbomère 980 à 1%. La stabilité de nos formulations a été évaluée par des tests pharmaco-techniques que sont la détermination des caractères organoleptiques, l’examen microscopique, le test de stérilité et la mesure de quelques paramètres physico-chimiques (conductivité, pH, viscosité et aptitude à l’étalement) et l’activité antibactérienne a été déterminée sur les germes du genre Staphylococcus. Résultats : La formule à 10% d’AV et 5% d’OG a été retenue au regard de sa plus grande stabilité. Au plan organoleptique, elle présentait un aspect homogène, une uniformité de couleur, une bonne consistance et une odeur caractéristique de l’OG. Sa conductivité évaluée à 1935µS/cm a confirmé le sens de l’émulsion Huile/Eau. Quant à la viscosité, elle était de 344400 mPa.s suggérant une bonne aptitude de l’émulgel à l’étalement. Enfin le pH (7,38) indiquait une bonne compatibilité avec celui de la peau, confirmée par les tests d’irritabilité sur le lapin albinos (Indice d’irritabilité IIP ˂ 0.5). L’activité antibactérienne sur les germes du genre Staphylococcus méticillino-résistante a montré une bonne sensibilité à cette formulation avec des zones d’inhibition ayant des diamètres > 8mm. Conclusion : Les résultats, concluant sur la stabilité et l’efficacité in vitro de l’émulgel à 5% d’HE d’OG, ouvrent la voie à la réalisation d’une étude clinique avant mise sur le marché.

The antifungal and antiaflatoxigenic effects of four distinct plant species against Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus were investigated. Essential oils and methanolic extracts were prepared from aerial parts of Lippia javanica, Ocimum gratissimum, Satureja punctata, and stem barks of Toddalia asiatica by hydro-distillation and maceration, respectively. The poisoned food method was used to confirm the antifungal activity of essential oils and methanolic extracts from four different plant species against Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, and high-performance liquid chromatography was used to quantify the antiaflatoxigenic activity. The essential oils of Satureja punctata and Lippia javanica showed the highest antiaflatoxigenic activity against the fungi strains tested at concentrations of 1.25, 2.5, and 5 µL/mL, followed by Ocimum gratissimum essential oil while Toddalia asiatica essential oil exerted moderate antiaflatoxigenic activity. Meanwhile, the methanolic extracts showed a wide spectrum of low to high antifungal and antiaflatoxigenic activities at concentrations of 125, 250, and 500 µg/mL against A. flavus and A. parasiticus. This study has indicated that the essential oils of Satureja punctate, Lippia javanica, and Ocimum gratissimum had substantial antifungal and antiaflatoxigenic activities compared to their methanolic extracts, while Toddalia asiatica methanolic extract had a moderate antifungal activity compared to its essential oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cancer is one of the most prominent causes of death worldwide. Ocimum gratissimum Linn. (Lamiaceae) leaves are used in many countries as a spice or medicine. Objectives: This study investigated the essential oil of the O. gratissimum leaves and its major constituent, thymol, for cytotoxic activity against breast (AU565) and cervical (HeLa) cancer cell lines. Methods: Preliminary screening was carried out using bench-top assay methods for cytotoxicity involving the use of tadpoles of Raniceps raninus (10-40 μg/mL) and brine shrimp of Artemia salina (10-1000 μg/mL) and growth inhibition using radicle of Sorghum bicolor seeds (1-30 mg/mL). Antiproliferation was verified by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Chromatographic separation of the oil resulted in fractions and sub-fractions, which were also subjected to biological testing. The components of the oil and active subfraction were further identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Results: Remarkable cytotoxic activities were seen against R. raninus tadpoles and A. salina nauplii. Growth inhibitory activity on S. bicolor seed radicles was produced concentration-dependent. The subfraction possessed greater cytotoxic activity on the cell lines than the oil, with inhibitory action of +85.07% and +29.20% against AU565 and HeLa cells, respectively. Thymol was the major constituent of the oil (22.49%) and increased to 94.31% in the subfraction. Conclusion: O. gratissimum volatile oil showed little inhibitory activity against AU565 and no inhibition on HeLa cells. However, its major component, thymol, demonstrated high potency, especially on the AU565 cell line, making it a good candidate for further studies.

Maize weevil is a major pest of stored maize grains in many regions of the world including Nigeria. A laboratory investigation was conducted to assess the potency of Ocimum gratissimum L. leaves for Sitophilus zeamais control. The O. gratissimum powder was used for ethanolic extract preparation by soaking 300 g of dry powdered plant material in 1.5 L of absolute ethanol for 24 hours at room temperature with continuous stirring for 10 minutes. The ethanolic extract tested for phytochemical constituents, including tannins, alkaloids, saponins, phenolic compounds, terpenoids, steroids, glycosides, and flavonoids, showed that they were all present except steroids. Exposure of adult S. zeamais to different concentrations of ethanolic extract generated significant cumulative mortality, and increased as the concentration increased; 35.5%, 64.4%, 95.5%, and 100% mortalities of S. zeamais were recorded at 30, 150, 250, and 750 mg/mL extract, respectively. The capacity of the extract to induce 100% mortality at 750 mg/mL concentration revealed its potential as an insecticidal agent. The powder caused low weight loss and seed damage of grains treated with the highest dosage. The ethanolic extract of O. gratissimum displayed a high level of insecticidal activity against maize weevil suggesting a high possibility of using it as toxicant, repellent, and feeding deterrent in integrated pest management strategies of S. zeamais. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivated by combat against the spread of foodborne diseases, the formulations of simple and easy-to-use spray disinfectants containing Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Ocimum gratissimum essential oils were studied. Central composite experimental design was used in the development of stable products with optimal essential oil content for antimicrobial efficacy. It also allowed minimizing the alcohol content which was used to ensure miscibility between the essential oils and the aqueous phase. Trans-cinnamaldehyde was the major compound in the C. zeylanicum essential oil. Its low toxicity allowed the formulation of a risk-free product despite the great variability in the chemical composition of the essential oil. Cooked food coated with a spray containing 1% of this essential oil, in combination with Thymus vulgaris tincture, could be preserved for 3 days without refrigeration. Eugenol was the major component of O. gratissimum essential oil, followed by 1,8- cineole and methylchavicol. Sprays containing 1.5% of this essential oil were effective against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Xanthan gum proved to be a good essential oil-trapping agent under accelerated ageing conditions at 45 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of present study was to investigate the phytochemical analysis and biological activities of the essential oils of Ocimum gratissimum L. and Ocimum sanctum L. The GC-MS analysis of Ocimum gratissimum essential oil (OGEO) and Ocimum sanctum essential oil (OSEO) comprised 97.3% and 95.9% of the total compositions respectively, with phenylpropanoid, eugenol (74.8% and 54.0% respectively) as the main constituents among other minor/trace constituents. Both OGEO and OSEO were screened for various biological activities. The antioxidant activity of OGEO and OSEO was evaluated based on their free radicals scavenging ability and was observed with IC 50 = 65.69±0.99 µg/mL and IC 50 = 115.30±0.29 µg/mL, respectively, to reduce Fe3+ complex to Fe2+with RP 50 = 36.59±0.14 µg/mL and RP 50 = 46.24±1.49 µg/mL and to chelate metals with IC 50 = 17.83±0.17 µg/mL and IC 50 = 82.57±0.10 µg/mL, respectively compared with standard antioxidants, namely BHT, ascorbic acid, and Na 2 EDTA. Compared with diclofenac sodium, the standard anti-inflammatory drug, both OGEO and OSEO showed inhibition of protein denaturation with IC 50 = 52.10±0.14 µg/mL and IC 50 = 39.83±0.32 µg/mL, respectively. Inhibition of α-amylase was also observed in both OGEO and OSEO with IC 50 = 58.54±0.04 µg/mL and IC 50 = 42.14±0.57 µg/mL, respectively, compared with acarbose (IC 50 = 16.04±0.01 µg/mL). The oils showed strong antifeedant activity (90%) against Spilosoma obliqua at the highest concentration (5.0 ppm). In addition, ADME/T and in-silico PASS studies using a web-based online tool demonstrated drug similarity, expected safety for consumption, and potential pharmacological activity. The study provides scientific evidence for the various biological activities of OSEO and OGEO and their ethnomedicinal uses. [Display omitted] • Two species of Ocimum were chemically profiled in the study. • Eugenol was the major phenylpropanoid constituent in both species. • The species were bio-evaluated for certain biological and pesticidal activities. • Quantitative structure-activity relationships have been studied. • O. gratissimum exhibited significantly high biological activities compared to O. sanctum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diffusion-ordered spectroscopy (DOSY) is an NMR method developed for separation of the components in mixtures according to their diffusion coefficients. Compounds of similar diffusion coefficients can be separated by addition of a co-solute or co-solvent to the mixture in a matrix-assisted DOSY experiment (MAD). The aim of this work is to present the diffusion behavior of the main components of essential oils of Ocimum basilicum var. purpurascens and Ocimum gratissimum, as well as, of eugenol derivatives investigated by DOSY, using the surfactant polyoxyethylene(20)-oleyl ether (Brij 78) as matrix. The results showed the effect of solvent, nature of the sample, and surfactant concentration on the resolution of investigated sample spectra. The choice of the solvent played the main role in the separation of resonances. The mixture of DMSO-d6:D2O allowed suitable separation of components from the essential oils in proportions of 1:1 and 5:1 to O. basilicum and O. gratissimum, respectively. The diffusion behavior of binary and ternary mixtures of eugenol derivatives was studied in different concentrations of the solutes and Brij 78. In general, the best separation was achieved with Brij 78 at 40 mM in DMSO-d6:D2O (1:1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There has been increasing antibiotic resistance by waterborne diseases related bacteria. Despite the use of various antibiotics, there is still a threat in the treatment of waterborne diseases. This study evaluated the antibacterial potentials of Ocimum gratissimum (O. gratissimum) on faecal bacteria associated with surface water. Methods: The collection, extraction, Gas chromatography, and mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) of O. gratissimum leaves and enumeration of bacterial derivatives from surface water samples were conducted per specified protocols. Antibacterial susceptibility test, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of O. gratissimum extracts on bacteria isolates were conducted via agar well diffusion and tube dilution respectively. Results: The GC-MS revealed the presence of eugenol with the highest percentage composition of 33.0 % in ethanol extract, while γ-Terpinene had the highest percentage composition of 11.88% in aqueous extract. Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis were the faecal bacteria observed. Escherichia coli had an inhibition zone of 23.67 mm and 30.67 mm at 50 mg/ml and 100 mg/ml on O. gratissimum aqueous extract respectively, while ethanol extracts were inhibited mostly with an inhibition range of 26.67 mm - 30.32 mm. The MIC obtained varied from 25 mg/ml to 50 mg/ml, the MBC was constant at 100 mg/ml for all bacterial isolates. Conclusion: Findings revealed that the ethanol extract of O. gratissimum leaf can be employed in the management of the faecal indicator bacteria observed in this study. Eugenol could be used explored for contemporary antibacterial studies to combat water-borne bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivated by combat against the spread of foodborne diseases, the formulations of simple and easy-to-use spray disinfectants containing Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Ocimum gratissimum essential oils were studied. Central composite experimental design was used in the development of stable products with optimal essential oil content for antimicrobial efficacy. It also allowed minimizing the alcohol content which was used to ensure miscibility between the essential oils and the aqueous phase. Trans-cinnamaldehyde was the major compound in the C. zeylanicum essential oil. Its low toxicity allowed the formulation of a risk-free product despite the great variability in the chemical composition of the essential oil. Cooked food coated with a spray containing 1% of this essential oil, in combination with Thymus vulgaris tincture, could be preserved for 3 days without refrigeration. Eugenol was the major component of O. gratissimum essential oil, followed by 1,8cineole and methylchavicol. Sprays containing 1.5% of this essential oil were effective against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Xanthan gum proved to be a good essential oil-trapping agent under accelerated ageing conditions at 45 °C.

Cured meats are desirable to consumers across the world. Unfortunately, the use of nitrite to obtain cured characteristics has health implications for consumers. Three (3) kg each of ham were produced and labeled as H0, H1, H2, H3 and H4, respectively. H0 represented traditional ham produced with nitrite-curing salt and H4 contained common salt alone. H1, H2 and H3 were produced with 15.0 mg kg-1, 30.0 mg kg-1 and 60.0 mg kg-1 Ocimum gratissimum leaf extract as an additive with common salt. Proximate composition, pH, water activity and residual nitrite levels in treatments as well as color profiles were studied. The percentage contents of moisture, fat, protein and ash ranged from 40.02 (H3) to 41.20 (H4), 2.05 (H0) to 2.61 (H2), 19.37 (H4) to 20.83 (H3) and 2.27 (H4) to 2.69 (H2), respectively. Residual nitrite levels reduced significantly (P0.05) from nitrite-cured ham, but redness of common-salt cured ham was significantly lower (P>0.05) compared to 60.0 mg kg-1 Ocimum gratissimum-common-salt-cured and conventionally cured types of ham. It was concluded that Ocimum gratissimum leaf extract as an additive can potentially influence the development of desirable characteristics in ham.

Ocimum gratissimum L. is a perennial herbaceous plant used in the treatment of fungal and bacterial infections. Green synthesis has provided cost effective, environment friendly procedure and raising safe strategies for the synthesis of nanoparticles. This study was aimed at investigating the potential of O. gratissimum for the synthesis of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) and their antimicrobial activities. Phytochemical screening on aqueous extract was carried out using standard procedures. Selenium nanoparticles was biosynthesized by O. gratissimum and characterized using Visual detection, UV-Visible spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscope, Transmission Electron Microscope, Energy dispersive X-ray, Fourier Transform Infra-red spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction spectroscopy. Antimicrobial activity of the biosynthesized selenium nanoparticles by O. gratissimum was done using agar well diffusion method. Saponins, tannins, cardiac glycosides, terpenoids and phenols were present. The biosynthesized SeNPs had a strong plasmon resonance band at 300 nm, changes in colour from dark brown to ruby red. The SeNPs were spherical and aggregated with varying shapes and size ranged from 20 – 50 nm. Strong signal of selenium element was observed. Hydroxyl, esters, aldehyde, alkane and amine are present and responsible for the efficient stabilization and bioreduction of Selenium nanoparticle. Furthermore, biosynthesized SeNPs by O. gratissimum (OGSeNPs) exhibited higher antimicrobial activity against both Gram ositive and Gram negative bacteria. Green synthesis of nanoparticles is a promising method in the biomedical field, due to its high bioactive components.

Summary: Objectives: Lead acetate (LA) is a known toxicant, and its exposure in the environment has been on the increase in recent times, leading to oxidative stress and tissue damage. Based on this background, we investigated the role of the antioxidative properties of Ocimum gratissimum (OG), a potent medicinal plant, in ameliorating and protecting the brain from lead acetate-induced cerebellar damage via the assessment of oxidative stress parameters and brain histology. Methods: Thirty-five adult male Wistar rats weighing 145–200g divided into five groups were used for this experimental study. Groups 1, 2, and 3 served as positive and negative controls and were administered sterile water, 252.98 mg/kg body weight of aqueous leaves extract of OG and 120 mg/kg of LA for 21 days. Furthermore, following the administration of LA, rats in groups 4 and 5 were treated with 125 and 250 mg/kg body weight of OG. OG and LA were administered orally for 42 days. Oxidative stress parameters, as well as histoarchitectural investigations following LA and OG treatment, were analysed. Results: Results showed normal histoarchitecture of the cerebellum in control and group 2 animals (OG only). In group 3 animals that received LA only, we observed severe stages of neurodegenerative features in the Purkinje, granular cell molecular cell layers of the Cerebellum. Also, results from groups 4 and 5 rats that were co-administered with LA and OG revealed regenerative tendencies and an increase in the neuronal cell density of the cerebellum. Nevertheless, we recorded an increase in the brain content of malondialdehyde and decreased antioxidant status (catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), and sodium dismutase (SOD)) following LA administration. OG attenuated this heightened MDA activity and depletion of the antioxidant status. Conclusion: Overall, these findings suggest that oral administration of aqueous extract of OG improved cerebellar neurotoxicity and degeneration in rats exposed to LA by modulating oxidative damage.

Maize weevil is a major pest of stored maize grains in many regions of the world including Nigeria. A laboratory investigation was conducted to assess the potency of Ocimum gratissimum leaves for Sitophilus zeamais control. O. gratissimum powder was used for ethanolic extract preparation by soaking 300g of dry powdered plant material in 1.5 litres of ethanol for 24 hours at room temperature with continuous stirring for 10 minutes. The ethanolic extract tested for phytochemical constituents, including tannins, alkaloids, saponins, phenolic compounds terpenoids, steroids, glycoside, and flavonoids, were all present except steroids. Exposure of adult S zeamais to different concentrations of ethanolic extract generated significant cumulative mortality, and increased as the concentration increased; 35.5%, 64.4%, 95.5%, and 100% mortalities of S zeamais at 30,150, 250, and 750 mg/ml extract, respectively. The capacity of the extract to induce 100% mortality at 750mg/ml concentration revealed its potential as an insecticidal agent, evoked low weight loss, and seed damage against the weevils on grains treated with the highest dosage of the extract.The ethanolic extract of Ocimum gratissimum displayed high level of insecticidal activity against maize weevil suggesting high possibility of using it as toxicants, repellents, feeding deterrents, and food poisoning agents in integrated pest management strategies of Sitophilus zeamais.

The present investigation was carried out in the year 2020 with an objective to unravel the effect of different shade intensities of green shade nets on leaf photosynthetic traits and secondary metabolites of four different Ocimum spp. Ocimum spp. namely O. tenuiflorum, O. sanctum, O. basilicum and O. gratissimum were kept under green shade net with variable shade intensities 35, 50, 75, 90% and open condition for 90 days. Data on various biochemical components viz., photosynthetic pigments, carotenoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, phenols and flavonoids were estimated from fully expanded leaves of all species at 30, 60 and 90 days intervals. Variable responses of different traits of photosynthetic pigments and secondary metabolites were observed in all Ocimum spp. under study. The trend was similar for all spp. and all the parameters under study. Total phenol and flavonoids increased with decreasing shade intensity i.e. maximum in control but higher intensity of light marks a decrease in chlorophyll pigments. Variation in shade intensity also affected the alkaloid and terpenoid content, maximum being at 35% shade intensity which was better than control. The present study reveals that Ocimum spp. possesses the ability to accurately adjust and alter their physiology and biochemical aspects under various shade conditions. This research also provides valuable information about optimum shade levels required during protected cultivation of Ocimum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The GC and GC/MS analysis of aerial parts of Ocimum gratissimum grown in Fars Province, southwestern Iran showed 51 constituents in volatile oil. Total percentage of identified constituents in the essential oil was equal to 99.05. The main components were linalool (32.2%), 1,8-cineole (15.57%), geraniol (14.7%) and epi-α-cadinol (5.5%). The essential oil yield was equal to 2.1%. The experiment continued using methanolic and hydromethanolic extracts of O. gratissimum to determine phenolic acid profiles as well as, antioxidant activity, total phenolic, and total flavonoid contents. Results showed total flavonoid contents of 151.90 and 15.77 μg QE mg−1 and phenolic contents of 63.05 and 74.59 μg GAE mg−1 for methanolic and hydromethanolic extracts, respectively. The IC50 values of the extracts were also reported as 714.49 for methanolic and 8724.39 μg mL−1 for hydromethanolic extracts, respectively. HPLC chromatograms showed the presence of 4.45 μg mg−1 DW of rosmarinic acid, 5.00 μg mg−1 DW of catechin, 3.30 μg mg−1 DW of gallic acid, and 2.47 μg mg−1 DW of sinapic acid for hydromethanolic extracts. The main phenolic acids were catechin (0.27 μg mg−1 DW), rosmarinic acid (0.1 μg mg−1 DW), sinapic acid (0.37 μg mg−1 DW), and eugenol (0.26 μg mg−1 DW) for methanolic extracts. All parameters showed significant differences in these extracts, while TPC presented a remarkable significant inverse relationship with TFC, FC, and anthocyanin at a significance level of 0.01, and a significant positive relationship was also reported between TFC and FC at a significance level of 0.01. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The leaves of Ocimum gratissimum L. was subjected to identification of its chemical constituents. • The in vitro cytotoxic activity of compounds against lung adenocarcinoma (A549), breast carcinoma (MCF-7), acute monocytic leukemia (THP-1), murine macrophages Raw 264.7 cancer cell lines and the normal fibroblast A7R5 cell line were studied. • THP-1 was the most sensitive to compounds 1-6. • Compound 4 and paclitaxel have similar IC 50 value against THP-1 cells. Malignancies constitute a global health concern and chemotherapy remains the main mode of treatment. The present study was designed to evaluate the cytotoxicity of metabolites isolated from Ocimum gratissimum L. The phytochemical investigation of the leaves of O. gratissimum L. (Lamiaceae) led to the isolation and characterization of eight compounds. Structures of isolated compounds were elucidated using 1D and 2D NMR, as well as MS. The purified compounds, were identified as five triterpenes (1-5), one flavonoid (6) and two steroidal compounds (7-8). The cytotoxicity effects of purified compounds were assessed in vitro by the WST-1 assay on three cancer cell lines including lung adenocarcinoma (A549), breast carcinoma (MCF-7), acute monocytic leukemia (THP-1), murine macrophages (Raw 264.7) and the normal fibroblast (A7R5) cells. Compound 4 had an IC 50 value of 3.21±0.4 µM similar to that of the reference drug, paclitaxel against THP-1 cells. The THP-1 cell lines were the most sensitive to compounds 1-6. All the compounds showed low cytotoxicity against the normal cell line A7R5 as compared to cancer cell lines. The constituents of Ocimum gratissimum L. and especially pomolic acid (4) is a potent cytotoxic compound that deserves more investigations toward developing novel antiproliferative drugs against acute monocytic leukemia (THP-1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuroprotective activities of various extracts of Ocimum gratissimum (OG), have been reported, but there is paucity of information on its neurotherapeutic constituents. This study is aimed at identifying the neurotherapeutic constituents in OG leaves using in vitro assays, GC-MS chemical investigation and in silico studies including molecular docking, ensemble-based docking, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, clustering and ADMET filtering analysis. Methanol extract of O gratissimum (MEOG) and solvent-partition (n-hexane, ethylacetate, and methanol residue fraction) of MEOG were investigated for in vitro acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) inhibition at concentration of 0.65, 12.5, 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/mL, using donepezil, phenazine methosulfate and selegiline as reference inhibitors for AChE, BChE and MAO B respectively. n-hexane solvent partition fraction was further investigated using GC-MS analysis. Identified compounds were screened against human AChE, BChE and MAO-B activities using molecular docking and molecular dynamics. The lead phytochemicals were further analysed for ADMET in silico analysis. MEOG and the 3 fractions (n-hexane, ethylacetate, and methanol residue fraction) inhibited the activities of AChE, BChE and MAO-B in a concentration-dependent manner with AChE (IC50 = 2.380, 2.022, 2.066 and 1.079 mg/mL respectively), BChE (IC50 = 2.261, 2.126, 2.630 and 1.465 mg/mL respectively) and MAO-B (IC50 = 2.345, 1.584, 2.933 and 2.935 mg/mL respectively). From the 38 GC-MS identified compounds, 7 hit compounds were further subjected to ensemble-docking, the lead phytochemicals (LP): cholestane and 3-methoxy-morphanin presented highest multiple binding tendencies to the three enzymes. Cholestane had the highest binding energies of −9.9, −9.0 and −11 kcal/mol, while 3-methoxy-morphanin presented the second-best binding energies of −9.3, −8.2 and −10.1 kcal/mol respectively. When compared with the binding pattern of reference inhibitors of the enzyme, lead phytochemicals were orientated in the catalytic sites of the enzyme and interacted with important catalytic residues. The LP-enzyme complexes were stable during the MD simulation analysis. Cholestane and 3-methoxy-morphanin presented favorable ADMET properties over several molecular descriptors and filters, with druggable properties and ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. Hence, cholestane and 3-methoxy-morphanin, in part, or in synergy with other hit phytochemicals, may be responsible for the neurotherapeutic activities of MEOG leaves.

The effects of Cissampelos pareira (Linn), Lantana camara (Linn) and Ocimum gratissimum (African basil) leaf extracts on pain have not been biologically determined despite their frequent traditional use in pain management. The present study evaluated the effects of methanol leaf extracts of these three plants on formalin-induced pain in Swiss albino mice. Leaves of C. pareira, L. camara and O. gratissimum were harvested, cleaned, shade dried, crushed, extracted in absolute methanol and concentrated to dryness. The quantitative phytochemical screening of the three plant extracts was first carried out. Then, the pain assay tests constituted eight groups of five mice each: normal control group, positive control group, negative control group and experimental groups of 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250mg/kg bw extracts. The animals were administered with various treatments thirty minutes before induction of pain through injection of 0.01ml of 2.5% formalin solution into the sub-plantar region of the left hind paw. Paracetamol at the dose of 50mg/kg bw and 5% dimethyl sulfoxide were used as the positive and negative controls respectively. The plant extracts were administered intraperitoneally and orally. Data was analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and unpaired t-test. Phytochemical screening on separate extracts of C. pareira, L. camara and O. gratissimum revealed fatty acids, phenols, flavonoids and terpenoids. The different dosages of methanol leave extracts of C. pareira, L. camara and O. gratissimum reduced pain significantly (p˃0.05) in mice. The significant reduction of pain was associated with fatty acids, phenols, flavonoids and terpenoids revealed in the plant extracts. [ J Adv Biotechnol Exp Ther 2021; 4(3.000): 349-364]

Abstract @@@In recent times, repellents and synthetic drugs have been identified as having negative toxicity effects on humans and the environment. Apart from the unfavourable effects on man and livestock caused by these chemicals-based (synthetic) repellents, they are also expensive, non-biodegradable, and no more effective because mosquitoes are getting adapted. With these drawbacks, an eco-friendly plant-based insecticide as a substitute is needed urgently. This paper reviews the extraction and use of essential oil from the leaves of Mentha spicata, Ocimum gratissimum, and Moringa oleifera as mosquito repellent. Carvone, Eugenol, and 9-Octadecenoic acid were discovered to be the most active components in the M. spicata, O. gratissimum, and M. oleifera extracts, respectively, using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Highlights 1. In recent times, repellents and synthetic drugs have been identified as having negative toxicity effects on humans and the environment. Apart from the unfavorable effects on man and livestock caused by these chemical-based (synthetic) repellents, they are also expensive, non-biodegradable, and no more effective because mosquitoes are getting adapted. 2. An eco-friendly plant-based insecticide as a substitute is needed urgently. 3. Diseases transmitted by mosquitoes are still a significant reason for the global mortality rate, with over 700 million individuals experiencing such diseases every year. With the proper formulation of other repellent forms using their oils, they can replace non-degradable synthetic mosquito repellents since they are eco-friendly. In general, the mosquitocidal activity and percentage protection of plant extract increase with increasing concentration of the extracts in different formulations. This paper is our original work. We certify that this manuscript has not been published in part or whole elsewhere in any language, and it has not been submitted to any other journal for reviews.

Black tea is one of the most popular beverages consumed in the world. It is stronger in taste as well as in flavour compared to other less oxidized teas. It is made from the leaves of the shrub Camellia sinensis var. assamica. Black tea can be supplemented with other plant parts to enhance its flavour and health-promoting properties. In India, Ocimum spp. leaves have been used for their medicinal properties since ancient times. These leaves can be added during black tea preparation to enhance their aroma and healing activities. O. gratissimum, known as "Scent Leaf", is traditionally used for the management of many diseases, such as the common cold and cough. This work was designed to evaluate the antioxidant interaction between black tea and O. gratissimum (leaves) at five different ratios (1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 2:1, and 3:1). To determine the antioxidant activity, chemical-based methods and ex vivo assays were conducted. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were calculated by Folin's reagent and aluminium chloride colorimetric assays, respectively. The antioxidant interactions were determined by the combination index (CI), using CompuSyn software. The black tea exhibited higher radical quenching activity (DPPH, ABTS, and NO) and antihaemolytic and anti-lipid peroxidation potential compared to the Ocimum gratissimum infusion. Variation in the antioxidant capability was observed for various ratios of the black tea and O. gratissimum (BT+OG) combination. The antioxidant interaction between BT and OG ranged from nearly additive to antagonistic. The total phenolic content was higher for O. gratissimum, whereas the total flavonoid content was high in black tea. The binary mixture of BT+OG at all ratios (3:1, 2:1, 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3) expressed similar phenolic and flavonoid levels. Overall, black tea and O. gratissimum displayed additive antioxidant interaction and the highest free radical scavenging potential at a 3:1 proportion in all the performed parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: One of the treatment goals for type II diabetes is to keep blood sugar to normal and inhibition of carbohydrate metabolizing enzymes represents a therapeutic strategy to achieve this aim. While medicinal plants possess a useful resource for therapeutics, combining plants of different species is believed to have a better pharmacological effect. Aim and Objectives: This study reported the antidiabetic potential, in-vitro and in-silico, of a polyherbal mixture which is a combined ethanol extract of Vernonia amygdalina, Allium sativum, and Ocimum gratissimum (which are plants native to tropical Africa). Materials and Methods: The study identified and quantified the phytochemicals present in the extract, its antioxidant and antidiabetic potentials were investigated. Also, the bioactive compounds present in the mixture were profiled with gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). The resulting compounds were screened for their binding potential into the active site of alpha-glucosidase using consensus scoring molecular docking strategy. Results: The polyherbal mixture was abundant in phenols flavonoids and sterols. Apart from scavenging DPPH radicals, the extract also inhibited alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase with better IC50 values of 106.22μg/ml and 128.60μg/ml respectively than the reference drug, acarbose. Out of the bioactive compounds present in the mixture, stigmasterol, gamma-sitosterol, and tocopherol ranked top and are good binders of alpha-glucosidase. It was observed that these compounds possessed better ADMET and drug-like properties than standard acarbose. Conclusion: These features are indicative that the polyherbal mixture of Vernonia amygdalina, Allium sativum, and Ocimum gratissimum contain in part bioactive compounds that can be used for the management/treatment of type II diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This experiment was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm of Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria, between May-August, 2018. It investigated the efficacy of Ocimum gratissimum against cowpea pod borer, Maruca vitrata. Four rates of liquid extracts were used, 0, 50, 100, and 150 mls as treatments using randomized complete block design. Proximate analysis on Ocimum gratissimum revealed percentage nutritional contents of ash 14.58%, moisture 82.22%, fibre 9.37% and protein 3.16%. Phytochemical analysis revealed phytate, 12.45g, tannin, 15.43g, sapogenin 11.64g, anthocyanidines 0.27g, and quinine 11.09g. Mineral compositions were Sodium 0.321mg/100g, potassium 0.355mg/100g, calcium 0.0144mg/100g, Magnesium 1.85mg/100g and cadmium 0.187/100g. Heavy metals include zinc, 0.250mg/100g, cadmium 0.00mg/100g, chromium 0.00mg/100g, Fe 0.381mg/100g, Nickel 0.291mg/100g and manganese 0.492mg/100g. Infrared compounds were alcohol 3344.5, aldehyde 2719, carboxylic acid 2995.5, alkenes 2804.4, isocyanate 2804.4. Data were collected on number of insects observed after application, number of plants infested, number of leaves damaged, and number of pods per plot and yield weight. Further results showed that treatments reduced number of insects, number of plants infested, number of leaves damaged, 2, 3, 4 WAP and these were significantlydifferent P≤0.05. Number of pods and yield weight were significantly P≤0.05 different over the control. In this study, Ocimum gratissimum reduced the number of insect pest attack (Maruca vitrata) on cowpea and these actions were due to the anti-nutritional constituents contained in the extract. This experiment was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm of Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria, between May-August, 2018. It investigated the efficacy of Ocimum gratissimum against cowpea pod borer, Maruca vitrata. Four rates of liquid extracts were used, 0, 50, 100, and 150 mls as treatments using randomized complete block design. Proximate analysis on Ocimum gratissimum revealed percentage nutritional contents of ash 14.58%, moisture 82.22%, fibre 9.37% and protein 3.16%. Phytochemical analysis revealed phytate, 12.45g, tannin, 15.43g, sapogenin 11.64g, anthocyanidines 0.27g, and quinine 11.09g. Mineral compositions were Sodium 0.321mg/100g, potassium 0.355mg/100g, calcium 0.0144mg/100g, Magnesium 1.85mg/100g and cadmium 0.187/100g. Heavy metals include zinc, 0.250mg/100g, cadmium 0.00mg/100g, chromium 0.00mg/100g, Fe 0.381mg/100g, Nickel 0.291mg/100g and manganese 0.492mg/100g. Infrared compounds were alcohol 3344.5, aldehyde 2719, carboxylic acid 2995.5, alkenes 2804.4, isocyanate 2804.4. Data were collected on number of insects observed after application, number of plants infested, number of leaves damaged, and number of pods per plot and yield weight. Further results showed that treatments reduced number of insects, number of plants infested, number of leaves damaged, 2, 3, 4 WAP and these were significantlydifferent P≤0.05. Number of pods and yield weight were significantly P≤0.05 different over the control. In this study, Ocimum gratissimum reduced the number of insect pest attack (Maruca vitrata) on cowpea and these actions were due to the anti-nutritional constituents contained in the extract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Echinochloa crus-galli (Barnyard grass) seriously damages crops in China. It has become resistant to many herbicides, hence, new and effective control measures need to be found. We did bioassay to find the herbicidal potential of 11-plant species essential oils on barnyard grass. The essential oils ofArtemisia argyi Lévl. et Van. (Green Wormwood oil), Curcuma zedoaria (Christm.) Rosc. (Turmeric oil) and Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth. (Patchouli oil) effectively inhibited the growth of barnyard grass. The green wormwood oil had the most potent herbicidal effects (EC50=0.0107 g/mL). After treatment with green wormwood oil, the activities of defence enzymes [catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD)], dramatically increased 8 h after-treatment, and then decreased to initial levels within 72 h. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) results revealed that borneol and eudesmol are two major components of green wormwood oil. The herbicidal activity assays revealed that eudesmol was more potent than borneol (Borneol, EC50=0.0865 g/mL; Eudesmol, EC50=0.0134 g/mL). The experiments indicate that green wormwood oil is a valuable raw material for developing new eco-friendly herbicides for agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current study provides insight on the feasibility of polylactic acid (PLA) integrated with (1:1 ratio) of essential oils belonging to Ocimum gratissimum (OG) and Mentha spicata (MS) for prevention of major stored insect pests (Sitophilus oryzae and Oryzophilus surinamensis) in Sorghum and Pearl millet. A combination of OG and MS essential oils (1:1) was incorporated into the PLA polymer matrix. Further, SPME analysis of synthesized PLA showed the presence of volatiles corresponding to carvone (6.44 %) and thymol (6.22 %). Synthesized PLA composites were tested against S. oryzae and O. surinamensis using Sorghum and Pearl millets, and insect mortality was equivalent to commercial super bags (CSB). The head space oxygen decreased significantly in CSB and slightly in PLA bags. Thickness of EO blended PLA composite was increased (99 μm), tensile strength (23.94 MPa), WVTR (1.42 g/m 2 .hr) analysis, significant folding ability, and swelling capacity (0.24 %) showed slight reduction in composite film. TGA showed good thermal stability (334˚C) and XRD displayed the increased crystallinity (38.35 %) in PLAOM films, SEM and FTIR analysis of the synthesized composite films revealed complete homogenization of EO and PLA matrix. In addition, SEM analysis of insects (control & treated) revealed less topology changes in the elytra. Biodegradability study confirmed the weight loss in PLA films. Hence, current approach of using composite EO's with PLA offers sustainable solution for prevention of infestation during storage of millets., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors gave the declaration that there is no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In this research, the essential oils (EOs) from different parts of Ocimum gratissimum var. suave were chemically characterized and evaluated for insecticidal activity, especially against two common storage pests of Chinese herbal medicines: Tribolium castaneum and Liposcelis bostrychophila. Ocimum gratissimum is a plant with several medicinal values in traditional Chinese medicine. In the study, EOs were successfully extracted from inflorescences (OGI) and stem-leaf (OGLS) parts of O. gratissimum by steam distillation and 16 compounds were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), of which eugenol was the major constituent in both extracts. In fumigation toxicity tests against both pests, the EOs showed limited toxicity against T. castaneum but showed better toxicity against L. bostrychophila. Contact toxicity tests showed that OGLS had better insecticidal potential than OGI, while the insecticidal effect of eugenol sometimes exceeded that of EOs. In addition, repellency experiments showed that O. gratissimum EOs repelled the pests to varying degrees, with the effect being influenced by concentration and exposure time. The results suggest that O. gratissimum EOs could be a promising alternative to synthetic insecticides for sustainable utilization., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Background and Aim: Dental caries, primarily caused by Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus spp., is a major global health issue. There is a growing need for effective, natural antimicrobial treatments. Ocimum tenuiflorum and Ocimum gratissimum are known for their medicinal properties, including antimicrobial activity. This study investigates the antibacterial efficacy of a herbal oral rinse derived from these plants. This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of an herbal formulation-based oral rinse prepared from Ocimum tenuiflorum and Ocimum gratissimum against Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus spp., Methods: Fresh leaves of Ocimum tenuiflorum and Ocimum gratissimum were shade-dried, powdered, and extracted in distilled water. The extract was incorporated into an oral rinse formulation. The antibacterial activity was assessed using the agar well diffusion method, protein leakage and cytoplasmic leakage assays, and time-kill curve analysis. A commercial oral rinse was used as a standard., Results: The herbal oral rinse exhibited significant antibacterial activity against both Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus spp. The zones of inhibition for Streptococcus mutans were 10 mm, 13 mm, and 15 mm at concentrations of 25 µg/mL, 50 µg/mL, and 100 µg/mL, respectively. For Lactobacillus spp., the inhibition zones were 10 mm, 12 mm, and 14 mm at the same concentrations. The protein leakage and cytoplasmic leakage analysis supported these findings, demonstrating the formulation's efficacy at low concentrations. Time-kill curve assays showed rapid bactericidal action, particularly at higher concentrations., Conclusion: The Ocimum tenuiflorum and Ocimum gratissimum- based herbal oral rinse demonstrates strong antibacterial activity against key oral pathogens, suggesting that it could be a natural alternative to conventional oral rinses., Competing Interests: Human subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve human participants or tissue. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Loganathan et al.)

Background Candida albicans is a common fungal pathogen responsible for oral infections, posing significant health challenges. Traditional antifungal treatments often come with side effects and resistance issues, highlighting the need for effective natural alternatives. O. tenuiflorum and Ocimum gratissimum are known for their medicinal properties, including antifungal activity. Objective This study aimed to evaluate the antifungal effectiveness of an O. tenuiflorum and O. gratissimum herbal formulation-based oral rinse against C. albicans. Methods Antifungal activity was measured using agar well diffusion, time-kill curve assays, and analyses of cytoplasmic and protein leakage. The herbal rinse was tested at concentrations of 25 µg/mL, 50 µg/mL, and 100 µg/mL, and compared to a commercial oral rinse. Results The herbal rinse demonstrated strong antifungal effects that increased with concentration. At 100 µg/mL, it produced a 13 mm zone of inhibition, outperforming the commercial rinse's 11 mm. The time-kill assay revealed that the 100 µg/mL concentration reduced fungal counts to 103 CFU/mL within 5 hours, on par with the commercial rinse. Cytoplasmic leakage analysis showed an optical density of 0.42 at 100 µg/mL, close to the commercial rinse's 0.45. Protein leakage analysis indicated an optical density of 0.52 at 100 µg/mL, slightly higher than the commercial rinse's 0.51. Conclusion The O. tenuiflorum and O. gratissimum herbal formulation-based oral rinse exhibit potent antifungal activity against C. albicans, rivaling and even surpassing commercial rinses at higher concentrations. This study underscores the potential of this natural oral rinse as a powerful alternative for managing oral fungal infections, meriting further research and clinical trials to confirm its long-term safety and efficacy., Competing Interests: Human subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve human participants or tissue. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Safiya S et al.)

This study evaluated the antidiabetic effect of the ethanolic combined extract of Ocimum gratissimum and Vernonia amygdalina (OGVA) in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The phytochemical content and safety level of OGVA in mice were assayed using standard methods and Lorke's model of toxicity study, respectively. Graded OGVA doses were administered orally in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats for 21 days. Indices of diabetes, oxidative stress, and tissue histology were assessed using biochemical kits and standard methods. The presence of various phytochemicals was identified with saponins (51.20 ± 0.11 mg/100 g) and flavonoids (40.70 ± 0.65 mg/100 g) recorded as the highest. Streptozotocin-induction, significantly (P < 0.05) increased blood glucose (405.00 ± 3.65 mg/dl), aspartate aminotransferase (104.00 ± 6.57 U/l), alanine aminotransferase (90.70 ± 2.87 U/l), alkaline phosphatase (137.00 ± 4.18 U/l), urea (78.80 ± 2.04 mg/dl), and malondialdehyde concentration (5.03 ± 0.04 µmol/g) while animal weight, reduced glutathione (9.94 ± 0.75 µmol/g), superoxide dismutase (31.86 ± 0.61 U/g), and catalase (27.30 ± 0.38 µmol/min) were significantly (P < 0.05) decreased. Histopathologic alterations were also observed in the liver and kidney. Treatment with OGVA significantly (P < 0.05) improved these deleterious changes in diabetic rats. Oral administration of OGVA combined ethanolic leaf extract may alleviate diabetic-related biochemical alterations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effects of aqueous leaf extract of Ocimum gratissimumon enzymatic antioxidants and renal function in carbon tetrachloride-induced nephrotoxicity. Twenty-five (25) adult Wistar rats were involved in this study. They were randomly assigned into five (5) groups of five (5) animals each, as follows: Group A received 1 ml of distilled water daily, Group B received 1.5 ml/kg of olive oiltwice a week for 15 days, Group C received 250 mg/kg of Ocimum gratissimum aqueous leaf extract daily, Group D received 1.5 ml/kg of carbon tetrachloride and olive oil (1:1 v/v), twice a week for 15 days, while Group E received 1.5 ml/kg ofcarbon tetrachloride and olive oil (1:1 v/v), twice a week for 15 days+ 250 mg/kg of Ocimum gratissimum aqueous leaf extract, daily. The extract was administered by orogastric tube, while olive oil and carbon tetrachloride were administered by intraperitoneal injection. Renal function markers (creatinine and urea), and malondialdehyde were assayed in plasma and tissue homogenate, respectively, using standard methods. Obtained data were subjected to statistical analysis using the IBM SPSS statistics software (Statistical Package for Social Science) (Version 25) and relevant statistical values were analyzed. Results showed that the intraperitoneal injection of carbon tetrachloride together with olive oil significantly (p < 0.05) increased the levels of urea and creatinine, and a similar outcome was observed in malondialdehyde levels. The administration of Ocimum gratissimum ensured a reversal of these levels to those comparable with the control. This demonstrates that aqueous leaf extract Ocimum gratissimum has the potential to manage carbon tetrachloride-induced nephrotoxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Use of synthetic chemicals in addressing livestock attacks by ticks has negative effects on animals, handlers and the environment. These problems necessitate search for potent alternatives in bioacaricides particularly volatile oils. Acaricidal effects of hydro-distilled volatile oils from the fresh leaves of Eucalyptus citriodora, Ocimum gratissimum (OG) and Callistemon citrinus were evaluated on ticks obtained from infested cattle using topical method at varying concentrations in acetone. For each concentration, ten ticks of similar species were placed in Petri dishes and administered 20μL of the mixture of volatile oil and acetone. Acetone (20μL) was used as control and the effects were observed for 24 h. Out of three tick species identified, Rhipicephalus microplus was most abundant and most sensitive to the oils. Others are Amblyomma hebraeum and Hyalomma rufipes (most resistant). The volatile oil of OG was the most potent with LC50 of < 2 % (< 0.4 μL), < 2 % and 7.97% (1.59 μL) on the organisms respectively. The 5% of OG produced 100% mortality on R. microplus in 10-25 min while 20% concentration produced 100% mortality on H. rufipes in 24 h. Volatile oils of these plants particularly OG can serve as potent alternative bio-acaricidal agents to chemicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a nexus between diabetes mellitus (DM) and sexual dysfunction in males. Ocimum gratissimum (OG) or scent leaf is commonly used to manage DM in traditional medicine. This study investigated testicular biochemical and histological alterations in normal and type 2 DM in vivo models, following administration of ethanol leaf extract of OG compared with standard hypoglycemic drugs Galvus (vildagliptin) and GalvusMet (vildagliptin-with-metformin). Type 2 DM was induced in Wistar rats using high fat diet and streptozotocin (50 mgkg−1 body weight [bw]). Animals were assigned into 8 groups of 10 rats each. Groups 1 and 2 served as normal and diabetic controls respectively, which received 2 mL of 10% Tween 80 kg−1bw. Groups 3 and 4 (normoglycemic) received OG 122.47 and 244.94 mgkg−1bw respectively, which were also received by diabetic groups 5 and 6 in that order. Diabetic groups 7 and 8 received Galvus and GalvusMet (0.714 and 15 mgkg−1bw) respectively. Leaf extracts generally increased levels of follicle stimulating hormone of test rats when compared with controls. Testicular superoxide dismutase and glutathione concentrations of non-diabetic rats were significantly increased (p < 0.05) in comparison with diabetics. Malondialdehyde concentrations of extract-administered diabetic groups were lower than those of diabetics treated with standard drugs. Active sperm counts and motility increased in diabetic groups given drug/extract, when compared with diabetic control. Testicular histology showed severe spermatogenic cell distortions in diabetic control, which were ameliorated by drug or extract. OG extract stimulates spermatogenesis and ameliorates germinal epithelial distortions caused by DM.

This study investigated the effects of aqueous leaf extract of Ocimum gratissimumon enzymatic antioxidants and renal function in carbon tetrachloride-induced nephrotoxicity. Twenty-five (25) adult Wistar rats were involved in this study. They were randomly assigned into five (5) groups of five (5) animals each, as follows: Group A received 1 ml of distilled water daily, Group B received 1.5 ml/kg of olive oiltwice a week for 15 days, Group C received 250 mg/kg of Ocimum gratissimum aqueous leaf extract daily, Group D received 1.5 ml/kg of carbon tetrachloride and olive oil (1:1 v/v), twice a week for 15 days, while Group E received 1.5 ml/kg ofcarbon tetrachloride and olive oil (1:1 v/v), twice a week for 15 days+ 250 mg/kg of Ocimum gratissimum aqueous leaf extract, daily. The extract was administered by orogastric tube, while olive oil and carbon tetrachloride were administered by intraperitoneal injection. Renal function markers (creatinine and urea), and malondialdehyde were assayed in plasma and tissue homogenate, respectively, using standard methods. Obtained data were subjected to statistical analysis using the IBM SPSS statistics software (Statistical Package for Social Science) (Version 25) and relevant statistical values were analyzed. Results showed that the intraperitoneal injection of carbon tetrachloride together with olive oil significantly (p < 0.05) increased the levels of urea and creatinine, and a similar outcome was observed in malondialdehyde levels. The administration of Ocimum gratissimum ensured a reversal of these levels to those comparable with the control. This demonstrates that aqueous leaf extract Ocimum gratissimum has the potential to manage carbon tetrachloride-induced nephrotoxicity.

Background: The present work is part of the exploration of new antiviral molecules to combat antimicrobial resistance. In purpose, this study determined the phytochemical analysis, cytotoxicity and antiviral activity of extracts from three Ivorian medicinal plants; Gliricidia sepium, Ocimum gratissimum and Xylopia aethiopica against poliovirus 1, a non-enveloped RNA virus. Methodology: Aqueous extract of the three plants, which were identified at the herbarium of National Floristic Center Abidjan, was done using a previously described method. The precipitation or staining technique was used to highlight the chemical groups in the three extracts while the polyphenol content of each extract was assessed by the colorimetric method. Cytotoxicity and antiviral activity tests were performed in 96-well plates. Cytotoxicity of each extract on L20B (a genetically engineered mouse cell line) was determined by observation of the cell line carpet. Antiviral activity of three extracts against poliovirus type I was determined after 72 hours using an assay that measures inhibition of the cytopathic effect on cell culture. Results: The three plant extracts contain polyterpenes, sterols and polyphenols, flavonoids, catechetical tannins, saponosides and quinones but none of the extract contains gallic tannins. With the exception of O. gratissimum, alkaloids were found in extracts from the two other plants, and extract of G. sepium was richer in polyphenol than the other two extracts. The cell carpet of L20B after 72 hours contact period with three extracts remained intact at concentrations ranging from 2 to 1000 µg/ml. The aqueous extract of G. sepium showed higher antiviral activity on poliovirus 1 (74.569%) at 2µg/ml than the extracts of O. gratissimum (45.6112%) and X. aethiopica (44.5247%) after 72 hours of incubation. Conclusion: The extract of G. sepium showed potent antiviral activity against poliovirus 1 than that of O. gratissimum and X. aethiopica. This was justified by its higher polyphenol content than the two extracts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The resistance of vectors to conventional insecticides has resulted in a renewed attention to natural products such as botanicals as a means of controlling mosquito vector population seeing that they are readily available and are eco-friendly. This study investigated the larvicidal efficacy of aqueous extracts of Ocimum gratissimum (leaf) and Terminalia catappa (bark) against Aedes sp. larvae and the evaluation of the phytochemical constituents present in them. The extracts were tested on laboratory bred Aedes sp. larvae at different concentrations (500, 750 and 1000ppm) at 24, 48 and 72 hrs. Data was analysed statistically using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The mortalities of the extracts were observed to increase with increase in concentration and time of exposure. Larval mortality recorded at 72 hrs of exposure to 1000ppm of O gratissimum and T. catappa were 46.7% and 13.3% respectively. LC50 and LC90 values at 72 hrs were 1017.70 and 1372.10ppm respectively for O. gratissimum and 4043.60 and 15678.10ppm for T. catappa. While only steroids were identified as the phytochemicals present in T. catappa, those identified in O. gratissimum include alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, steroids and tannins. The efficacy of both study plant extracts showed promising larvicidal potency. This is useful considering the current drive on Integrated Vector Management in controlling mosquito vector species on many fronts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]